Russ Rose Then (2015): “I think it will take some time for Nia to get her game ready to play again. But I would expect, as I thought when we elected to redshirt her, that there are going to be times when she makes a real contribution to the team with her front row play. She hits the ball high and she is an exceptional blocker. Always smiling and caring for the team are two of Nia’s greatest contributions.”
2015 Season (Redshirt Freshman): Played in 11 of 34 matches (2 starts) and 21 of 115 sets … totaled 20 kills and 6 blocks … made her collegiate debut against Stony Brook (8/29) … had a career-high 3 kills without any attack errors against Eastern Kentucky (9/11) … made her Big Ten collegiate debut at Northwestern (10/10)… tallied a career-high 6 kills to go along with a career-high 2 blocks against Indiana (10/16) … had 3 kills and 1 block against No. 13 Purdue (10/17) … matched a career-high mark with 6 kills, while also posting 3 blocks at Michigan State (10/24) … had 1 kill on the road at No. 4 Nebraska (11/28).
Before Penn State: A 4-year starter at Immaculate Heart Academy … led her high school squad to 4 consecutive non-public state championship titles, picking up Bergen Record Player of the Year honors in 2012 and 2013 … earned Star Ledger Player of the Year accolades in 2011, 2012 and 2013 … earned Big North Conference All-State honors from 2010-13 … competed with the “Digs” club team …played on the USAV Girls’ Youth A2 team in 2012, serving as an alternate on the Youth National Team in 2013 … a 2013-14 Under Armour All-American … a Mizuno First Team All-American … 3-time New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year from 2011-13.